Despite threating rain we had a marvelous day.  At least a hundred mom, babies
and toddlers were present along with Rep. Maloney (D-NY) and Morella (R-MD)
and more press then we have had in the past.  The mood was positive and one of
comraderie.  At the close of the formal press conference Rep. Maloney came and
sat on the steps and talked with mothers and held babies.

The "Right to Breastfeed Act" is very simple and seems to be getting bi-
partisan support.  Its purpose is to "ensure a woman's right to breastfeed her
child on any portion of federal property where the woman and her child are
otherwise authorized to be".  It was to be introduced later in the day, so
there is no bill number at present.  This will add strenght to existing state
laws (AK, CA, DE, FL, IL, MI, NV, NJ, NY, NC, TX, UT, VA, WI), and will
hopefully help set the standard for other states to follow.

The speakers besides the congressmen included 4 mothers who had been asked to
leave or harassed while nursing in various loacations, and Dr. Michal Ann
Young, representing the AAP and Barbara Heiser, representing NABA.

During my brief statement pointing out that if breast is best, as all agree,
it can't be only in the privacy of the mother's home, I made a presentation to
Rep. Maloney.  I presented her with a drawing of the Statue of Liberty
breastfeeding with the caption "Breastfeed for a healthy nation" in
appreciation for her support of breastfeeding in behalf of all breastfeeding
mothers and babies in the US.  She was thrilled and plans to hang it in her
office.

Again, what you can do to be part of this effort is to contact your US House
of Representatives person, and urge them to co-sponsor this simple bill.  You
will be able to get a copy of the bill and follow its progress at
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Pleae note that there is no www on this website.

Thanks for all the support and remember that the more reps we get to sign onto
this simple bill, the more it will help to move H.R.3531 also.

Barbara Heiser, NABA